After divisive midterms, U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer tries for new leadership role

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer's ability to win a powerful House leadership role could rest on whether his fellow Republicans see the midterms as a success or a failure.

With Republicans favored to win back control of the chamber, the Minnesotan who led the House GOP's campaign arm is running this week to become the coveted majority whip. Yet that majority could come by a relatively small number of seats instead of the sizable wave of Republican wins the right had hoped to see.

"The bottom line is, we flipped the House and we're now going to be a check on Joe Biden and the Democrats' one-party rule," Emmer told reporters the day after the election.

His bid to become the third-highest ranking House Republican is the latest political move for the lawyer, former state legislator, governor candidate and radio talk show host from Delano. But as legislators made their way back to Capitol Hill on Monday, control of the House had yet to officially be called.

"House Republicans were supposed to do far better than they did, and they failed," said Jim Manley, who is from Minnesota and was a top Democratic leadership staffer in the Senate. "One of the burdens of leadership is that you pay the price when you make a mistake."

Emmer's work running the National Republican Congressional Committee is framed by allies as an asset in his quest for whip, taking on the responsibility of counting votes, persuading members and gathering Republican support for legislation.

"He's worked tremendously hard for the last couple years to make sure we flip the House. and we did; we won," said Derrick Van Orden, an incoming Republican congressman from Wisconsin who faced scrutiny during his campaign for being outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 and has denied wrongdoing. "It's due a lot to Tom Emmer's efforts, and I think that should be rewarded."

But House Republicans' midterm performance has put a spotlight on Emmer's campaign role in the absence of a more sizable majority.

"If you fail at your job, you shouldn't get a promotion," said Republican strategist Ryan James Girdusky.

While Republicans have picked up enough competitive seats to give the GOP better odds than Democrats at controlling the House, the party failed to win some closely watched swing district races in Michigan, Ohio and Virginia even amid economic concerns and Democratic President Joe Biden's approval rating struggles.

In Minnesota, the Emmer-led national campaign arm spent millions trying to oust Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, only to see her win by an even larger margin than in 2020.

"After the previous administration and January 6, I just think there's enough hesitancy by the voters and I think it probably undermined our ability to get more seats," said Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, who has endorsed Emmer's bid to become whip.

In a call with reporters the day after the election, Emmer said Republicans captured "a lot of low-hanging fruit" in 2020 when under his watch, they won enough seats to make Democrats balance a narrow majority of their own even while Republican Donald Trump lost the White House.

"No one ever said this thing was going to be easy," Emmer said.

This year, Republicans were playing to win in Biden territory, he said, before staying on message over a question about the election results potentially impacting his chances at the whip role.

"We delivered," Emmer said.

As he walked into a Republican meeting Monday, he said "people seem to be pretty happy that they're going to be in the majority."

Indiana's Jim Banks and Drew Ferguson of Georgia are expected to compete with Emmer for the whip role in Tuesday's GOP leadership elections.

"This is about who's best positioned to do the job," Banks said Monday.

Concerns about Emmer emerged even before Election Day. He drew the public ire of Donald Trump Jr., though not the former president himself.

Right-wing firebrand Charlie Kirk has also called out Emmer, though how much those outside voices matter to the rank-and-file Republicans whose support the Minnesota lawmaker needs is unclear.

"We need mass firings in the GOP machine," Kirk, who has touted Banks, tweeted on Nov. 10. "Start with Tom Emmer and go from there."

Yet on Capitol Hill, Emmer has tangible support from new and veteran members alike. To quibble about the margins is short-sighted, said incoming GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, who ousted a Democrat in a New York race that may be a difference maker in House control.

"Loyalty's got to matter for something in this business," said Lawler, who supports Emmer. "You stick with the one who brought you to the dance."

Democrats maintained a thin hold on the Senate on Tuesday, and House Republicans may also have to contend with Trump's political ambitions distracting from work on Capitol Hill.

And if Emmer does become whip, he and other leaders may face difficulties guiding the raucous party during major votes.

"I wouldn't wish this whip job on my worst enemy," said Manley, the former Senate Democratic staffer.